PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A quarter of the way through the century, Pitt has had a couple of all-time players, not just in college, but later in the NFL. A look at the Top 25 best Pitt football players since 2000.
Aaron Donald-DL
· Unanimous 1st Team All-American won Bronko Nagurski & Outland Trophies along with Chuck Bednarik and Lombardi Awards-47 TFL in 2 years
Larry Fitzgerald-WR
· Heisman Trophy runner-up, Biletnikoff Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year with 92 catches, 1,672 yds, 22 TD in 2003 averaging 18.2 yds-per-catch
LeSean McCoy-RB
· As freshman 1328 yards & 14 TD in 2007 including 148 yards in 13-9 win over WVU. Had 21 rushing TD and 1,488 yds in other year at Pitt
Darrelle Revis-CB
· 73-yard punt return for TD v WVU was 2006 College Football Play of the Year by ESPN, Freshman All-American & 3 years all-conference. Its where he built Revis Island
James Conner-RB
· Battled back from knee injury & Hodgkin Lymphoma to leave Pitt as its 2nd leading rusher, 2nd in rushing TD. Set Pitt bowl record with 229 rush yds & played a little defensive end
Tyler Boyd-WR
· Clairton HS grad left school as Pitt’s career leader in receptions (254) and yards (3,361)
Antonio Bryant-WR
· In 2000, averaged 19.1 yards per catch with 1,302 yards on 68 receptions and 11 touchdowns winning the Biletnikoff Award as nation’s best receiver
HB Blades-LB
· Pitt Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore, had a 20-tackle game as a junior.
Left school as the 3rd leading tackler in team history
Kenny Pickett-QB
· Pitt’s all-time passing leader won an ACC Championship and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy
Dorin Dickerson-TE
· All-American tight end in his second season at the position had 49 receptions for 529 yards and 10 touchdowns
Scott McKillop-LB
· Led NCAA in tackles as a junior, 2-time All-American, made the 4th quarter, 4th down stop to seal the 13-9 Backyard Brawl win in 2007
Jordan Addison-WR
· Won the Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver in the nation after 100 receptions for 1,593 yards and 17 TD in Pitt’s ACC Championship season
SirVocea Dennis-LB
· Used his speed to start 3 seasons with 36 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions (including 50-yard TD in win over Clemson)
Dion Lewis-RB
· 2nd only to Tony Dorsett in freshman rushing yds with 1,799, 17 TD in 1st season, had 13 TD and 1,061 yards in other season at Pitt
Jabaal Sheard-DE
· Big East Defensive Player of the Year and 1st Team All-American with 14.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks and led the conference in forced fumbles as a senior
Jaylen Twyman-DL
· 2nd Team All-American after 12 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks as a sophomore interior lineman, left after 2 seasons for NFL Draft
Rashad Weaver-DE
· 1st Team All-American after missing the previous season following a training camp injury. In 9 games-14.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles
Ejuan Price-DL
· 2nd Team All-American finished 4th in Pitt history with 29.5 sacks, averaged 1.8 tackles for loss per game his final year (2nd in NCAA).
Had a 5 sack game.
Quadree Henderson-WR/KR
· Consensus All-American in 2016 rushed for 631 yards and 5 TD, caught 26 passes for 286 yards/TD, 3 kick return TD and a punt return score
Calijah Kancey-DL
· ACC Defensive Player of the Year, unanimous All-American led interior defensive linemen with 14.5 tackles for loss, twice had games of 3.5 TFL
TJ Clemmings-OL
· The four-year letterman was a 2nd Team All-American only playing offensive line for 2 seasons in college
Brian O’Neil-OT
· The converted tight end became and all conference tackle, scoring a pair of touchdowns as an offensive lineman
Jordan Whitehead-S
· Freshman All-American, ACC Rookie of the Year with 109 tackles (Pitt record for freshman). Also rushed for 362 yards & 3 TD
Jeff Otah-OT
· Dave Wannstedt called him the best run blocker he ever coached, allowed just four pressures in his brief career and a first-round draft pick
Andy Lee-P
· Two-time Big East Special Teams Player of the Year, his 44.1 yards per punt were highest in Big East in six years
Honorable mention-Jimmy Morrissey, Avonte Maddox, Chris Blewitt, Alex Kessman, Ben Sauls, Scott Orndoff, Nate Byham, Rod Rutherford, Greg Romeus